Peter HOPKINS - Surgeon

[elphaba]

Hi all

I have come across Peter Hopkins and Catherine (nee Connell) having 4 children all baptised in St George the Martyr, Southwark from 1827 - 1833. Peter is described as a surgeon of Kent St on all baptisms. One daughter Catherine Elizabeth (bapt 16 Apr 1830) could very well be my ancestor so I'm trying to find anything to link this family with my Catherine who was having children with Ambrogio de Grussa in the st Mary,Newington area from 1854 onwards.

My Catherine was 43 when she died in late 1872 so this age fits with the above Catherine's baptism. Her birth is listed on the baptism as 26 Sept 1829. I cannot locate my Catherine in the 1871 census but have found her in the 1861 census. She says she was born in Newington.

Her first son was named Carlo which is her father in law's name and her second son was Ambrogio Peter Alfred. No doubt after her "husband" (no marriage to be found!!) and possibly her father. 

Peter Hopkins died in April 1841 of a laudanum overdose while intoxicated! The newspaper article suggests he was irritable in his temper and addicted to habits of intemperance    His second wife Ann had his 4 children by Catherine with her in the census in 1841.

From here it gets tricky. I'm wondering how Peter would have become a surgeon and whether he may have trained through a hospital (St Thomas or Guys etc). I know LMA has records for these places but how hard is it to look through them??? Were juniors  apprenticed to other surgeons?

Not sure how to proceed with locating a connection and whether in fact, I will find one! But it's fun trying.

Cheers
Carolyn

[Valda]

Hi

The Royal College of Surgeons has an enquiry service or if you are able you can visit their library

http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums/archives/family-history-research


Did your Catherine ever use the two names Catherine Elizabeth or just Catherine?


Regards

Valda

[jennifer c]

They do not seem to be married in 1851 as Ambroglio is shown as single workman in a Swiss owned chocolate factory in Holborn.

Jennifer

[elphaba]

Hi Valda

Thanks for the info on the Royal College of Surgeons, I will check them out online (I'm in Australia  

My Catherine was named as Catherine Elizabeth on all her children's birth certificates except one. The informant was always her "husband" Ambrogio. On her death certificate she was also Catherine Elizabeth.
On one child's death certificate the informant is C de Grussa which I have taken to be her as her son Carlo would have only been 10 and daughter Catherine 12. It doesn't state "mother".
She is very elusive!!

Cheers
Carolyn

[elphaba]

Hi Jennifer

You are correct! Ambrogio had made his way to London by 1851 and by August 1854 he and Catherine had their first child.

I have located a Catherine Hopkins in the 1851 census in the home of Thomas and Mary Ann Haughton in St Bride's London. She is the right age and born in Southwark. I wondered if this was my Catherine and this was how she met Ambrogio on the north side of the Thames???!!

In the one census I have of her with Ambrogio she is listed as only Catherine.

Cheers
Carolyn

[jennifer c]

Who was Peter's  2nd wife? was Ann Neal her mother?

Jennifer

[elphaba]

Hi Jennifer

Peter's first wife Catherine died in 1834 and he remarried Ann Mansfield in 1836. Some of Ann's brothers were mentioned in the newspaper article on Peter's death. I have been following them a bit in the census but have had no luck in finding wonderful links to my de Grussa family!

Carolyn

[jennifer c]

How old was Peter when he died, do you have anymore about information him?

Jennifer

[elphaba]

Hi Jennifer

According to the newspaper article Peter was 34 when he died in April 1841, still a surgeon and of Kent Street so he doesn't seem to have strayed in over 13 years at least!
He seems to have had a shop attached to his house as the article describes how Peter and Ann went home after a night out drinking. They then argued about his children by his former wife and Peter threatened to smash the bottles in the shop!!

Cheers
Carolyn